Chapter 28: Pleading
"The clash of Gang Sha Qi is indeed difficult to handle. However, if someone could help draw out the Evil Qi, it would be much easier," said Elder Ling.
"Draw out the Evil Qi?" Shangguan Hong frowned. He had tried to forcibly expel the Evil Qi, but it was too wild and tyrannical. The moment he acted, it would clash and contend with his own Gang Qi, and he was the one who suffered in the end. That was why he could only do his best to suppress the Gang Sha Qi in his day-to-day life.
"If we apply needles to your Yongquan, Taichong... Danzhong, and other acupoints, and you cooperate, the Evil Qi will naturally be slowly expelled," Elder Ling said with a smile.
"But the Evil Qi is too ferocious. An ordinary person simply cannot withstand it," Shangguan Hong said. "Besides, I've never been able to find a master of such acupuncture techniques! I've tried many times, but everyone just shook their heads. This is a problem that even Celestial Spirit Realm experts can't solve."
Only someone at the Primordial Pill Realm would have the confidence to succeed.
However, the average Primordial Pill Realm expert doesn't know acupuncture techniques.
And those who do know acupuncture techniques don't have high enough cultivation.
Furthermore, Primordial Pill Realm experts are few and far between, even in the Great Tang Empire.
How could it possibly be easy for him to ask one for help?
"Elder Ling is a Great Physician. He's saved countless people in our Longtan Town." Suddenly, Zhang Quan leaned in and whispered in Shangguan Hong's ear.
"Oh!" Hearing this, Shangguan Hong's eyes lit up.
Then, he looked toward Elder Ling, a look of sudden understanding on his face.
'For this elder to point out my condition, he must have a solution. Otherwise, what would be the point?'
"I beg you, senior, to help me. I, Shangguan Hong, thank you in advance." Suddenly, Shangguan Hong stood up, got down on one knee, and pleaded.
"This..." Watching this scene, Shangguan Qingmu was dumbfounded.
'Apologizing earlier was one thing.'
'But now... he's kneeling.'
'Are we really here to investigate the execution of the Divine Guard?'
Outside the main hall.
"What is going on?" Huang Xiaoman was also dumbfounded.
She had arrived at Ling's Medical Clinic a while ago but had been stopped outside by an attendant.
After waiting for a moment, she grew too anxious and forced her way in.
Unexpectedly, she saw this scene and heard Elder Ling point out Shangguan Hong's physical condition.
Still, she felt like she couldn't process what was happening.
'The man before me is clearly a high-ranking figure among the Divine Guard, yet now he's kneeling!'
"Lord Shangguan, there's no need for this." Elder Ling waved his large hand, and a current of air swept out, lifting Shangguan Hong to his feet. He then said with a smile, "Our meeting is a matter of fate. It is only natural that I help you resolve this crisis."
"Thank you, senior." Hearing this, Shangguan Hong was overjoyed and quickly clasped his hands in a salute. He knew that this time, he might have a chance to escape the torment of this Evil Qi.
"You don't have to thank me," Elder Ling said.
Shangguan Hong's eyes showed his confusion.
'How could I not give thanks for such a great favor?'
Shangguan Yurou and Shangguan Qingmu also wore expressions of surprise.
"Because the one who will be treating you is not this old man," said Elder Ling.
"Not you, senior?" Hearing this, Shangguan Hong looked surprised. 'Is there someone else here who can help?'
"This old man is injured, and my True Essence is not suitable for suppressing Evil Qi, so it is inadvisable for me to act," Elder Ling said.
"Then who is it?" Shangguan Hong couldn't help but ask.
Even Zhang Quan was full of surprise.
'Who else in Ling's Medical Clinic has such ability?'
Elder Ling stroked his long beard, his gaze shifting to Ling Fei beside him.
"Him?" Seeing this, Shangguan Qingmu was startled.
"Ling Fei?" Shangguan Yurou also found it unbelievable.
"This... this..." Shangguan Hong was momentarily at a loss for words.
'He's just a sixteen-year-old boy. Can he really do it?'
"Let that bad boy handle it?" Even Huang Xiaoman, at the entrance to the hall, stared wide-eyed.
'If I weren't seeing this with my own eyes, I'd really wonder if I was dreaming.'
"Ahem." Being stared at by so many people, Ling Fei couldn't help but touch the bridge of his nose and cough twice.
"Foster Father, do you want me to do it?" he asked, his gaze shifting to the man beside him.
Ling Fei was very confident when it came to acupuncture.
He had heard the conversation between his foster father and Shangguan Hong and already understood everything.
'But this Evil Qi is something even Celestial Spirit Realm experts can't handle. It would be quite troublesome for me to take this on.'
At this moment, everyone looked toward Elder Ling, as if waiting for his confirmation.
"That's right. You are the most suitable person for the job." Elder Ling nodded. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present.
"It really is him!" Shangguan Qingmu's brows knitted together, and he couldn't help but glance at Ling Fei again. 'Does he have that kind of skill?'
'A junior at the Body Tempering Realm... can he really do it?' Shangguan Hong wondered doubtfully.
However, since Elder Ling had spoken, he felt it wasn't his place to question him.
"Although Fei'er is young, he has practiced medicine with me for many years and has long since received my true teachings." As if sensing everyone's doubts, Elder Ling spoke unhurriedly. "Furthermore, Fei'er has manifested Cold Dao True Qi. This True Qi can be used to ice-seal the Evil Qi that is drawn out, thereby neutralizing the harm to the person performing the acupuncture."
"Of course, this will also require your cooperation. The amount of Evil Qi drawn out each time must be extremely precise—not a bit more."
Elder Ling said, looking at Shangguan Hong.
"Cold Dao True Qi does indeed have miraculous effects." Shangguan Hong nodded slightly, but he still had reservations in his heart.
'Ling Fei's cultivation is too low. His True Qi hasn't even transformed into Gang Qi. Can it really withstand the Evil Qi?'
'You have to understand, even a tiny sliver of this Evil Qi is not something an ordinary person can withstand!'
"What, you don't trust this old man?" Elder Ling said, an eyebrow arching.
"I wouldn't dare. Since you are so confident, senior, then I will do my utmost to cooperate with Young Master Ling's treatment," Shangguan Hong said, his gaze firming.
Although he still had his reservations.
However, this was a rare opportunity.
Even if it wasn't successful, it still offered a glimmer of hope to escape the torment of the clashing Evil Qi.
Since there was hope, Shangguan Hong was naturally unwilling to miss it.
"Good, then let's begin now," said Elder Ling. "Expelling Evil Qi cannot be accomplished overnight."
"In that case, I will have to trouble you, senior, and impose upon Young Master Ling," Shangguan Hong said with a smile full of gratitude.
"This way." Elder Ling didn't say more, simply making a gesture of invitation.
He then led Shangguan Hong into a medical room specifically for acupuncture.
"The rest of you may wait outside." As for Shangguan Qingmu and the others, they were kept in the outer room.
Shangguan Hong was instructed to lie down on a couch, his clothes removed.
"Fei'er, immerse your heart in the needle. Thoughts Follow the Heart, and the needle follows your intent... Start with the Yongquan acupoint. If any Evil Qi leaks out, immediately circulate your True Qi to ice-seal and neutralize it. Remember, use your Heart Spirit Sensing to judge the Evil Qi's strength. The circulation of your Cold Qi can be neither too strong nor too weak."
At his side, Elder Ling began to guide Ling Fei.
For Ling Fei, this was a test.
However, now that he had manifested True Qi and cultivated the Qi Manipulation Technique, his control over his True Qi had long since improved.
Therefore, he wasn't without confidence in performing this acupuncture.
Furthermore, he had a fair amount of confidence in his own Cold Chi True Qi.
Now, all that remained was to see just how strong that Evil Qi really was.
After all, he had never come into contact with this kind of Evil Qi before.
"Yes, Foster Father!" Ling Fei nodded. His expression turned serious as he looked toward Shangguan Hong lying on the couch.
At this moment, he saw only a patient, and he was the physician.
The childishness on Ling Fei's face vanished, replaced by a focused gaze so intense that even Shangguan Hong felt a jolt in his heart when he sensed it.
'Such a demeanor, like that of a grandmaster... how could a young man possibly possess it?' His attitude toward Ling Fei changed abruptly.
At the same time, his confidence in the upcoming treatment grew.
'Perhaps this young man before me really can help me escape the torment of the Evil Qi.'